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Michelle Obama Admits She & Barack ‘Shed Tears’ While Dropping Malia, 22, At Harvard For 1st Time

Malia Michelle Barack Obama
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Former US First Lady Michelle Obama (R) and her daughter Malia Obama (L) visit the Tirta Empul Temple during a family holiday in Bali, Indonesia, 27 June 2017. The Obamas are in Bali as part of a ten-day family holiday in Indonesia.Former US president Barack Obama on holiday in Bali, Indonesia, Tampaksiring - 27 Jun 2017
Malia Obama, left, and Sasha Obama, right, walk from the White House to board Marine One President Obama, the White House, Washington DC, USA - 06 Aug 2016 Malia Obama, left, and Sasha Obama, right, walk from the White House, in Washington, to board Marine One, soon to be followed by their parents President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama, en route to Andrews Air Force Base, Md., and on to Martha's Vineyard for a family vacation
US President Barack Obama hugs his daughter Malia, after singing to her Happy Birthday, at the Fourth of July White House party, while singer Janelle Monae (R) reacts White House Independence Day party, Washington, D.C, America - 04 Jul 2016 Guests at the party included military families and staff and their families from throughout the administration. Because of the rain the party was moved from the South Lawn to the East Room of the White House.
Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Sasha Obama, Malia Obama, Harry Harris, Bruni Bradley U.S. President Barack Obama, left, with their daughters Malia, center, and Sasha, second from right, are greeted as they arrive on Air Force One, at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, adjacent to Honolulu, Hawaii, for their annual family vacation on the island of Oahu. Greeting the first family from left are Adm. Harry Harris, commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, and his wife Bruni Bradley Obama, Honolulu, USA - 16 Dec 2016 View Gallery View Gallery 14 Photos.
Political News Editor

Barack Obama was an emotional wreck when he took daughter Malia to college for the first time. Michelle Obama confessed on her podcast that they both wept in the car after leaving her at Harvard freshman year!

Who knew that Barack Obama was such a big softie? Former First Lady Michelle Obama revealed on her Spotify podcast that her husband absolutely “shed tears” as they dropped off their eldest daughter, Malia Obama, at college for the first time. Michelle, 56, said that she and Barack took Malia, now 22, to lunch before leaving the freshman at Harvard just to get a little more time with her. It still didn’t soften the sting when they watched her walk away.

“That moment when she left the restaurant and we got into our car to go to the airport, we tried to hold it in,” she said on the September 16 episode of The Michelle Obama Podcast. “Then, I heard Barack over on the side just [*sniffs*]. Allen, his Secret Service agent, passed a handkerchief back to him and he was like, ‘thanks, man.'” She stressed that they both “shed some tears” during the car ride, not just Barack.

“There was just something about actually leaving her — even though she had been to sleep away camp, and had traveled. That baby is now gone,” Michelle said of her daughter. She and Barack “were better” when it came to dropping off their 19-year-old daughter, Sasha Obama, at the University of Michigan for her freshman year. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, both girls are back home in Washington, DC, with their parents now.

Michelle said on a previous episode of her podcast that she and Barack strove to make Sasha and Malia’s childhood as “normal” as possible, even while living in the White House. That included making sure that they cleaned their own rooms and having dinner together as a family when possible. Still, they had to grow up with the Secret Service tailing them everywhere, even on the playground at at their peewee basketball games.

Malia Michelle Barack Obama
Michelle and Barack Obama with eldest daughter Malia Obama (AP Images)

The Michelle Obama Podcast airs Wednesday mornings on Spotify.